Three-quarters (76%) of college football fans say they would be disappointed with the creation of super conferences that would eliminate historical regional conference rivalries, according to a poll released today. The poll also indicated a strong belief that decision-making regarding conference realignment should be conducted with transparency and public input.
Well that seems startling. Naturally there was a solid unbiased sampling.
The survey, conducted among college graduates within Big 12 member states over the weekend by KRC Research of Washington, D.C. and commissioned by Baylor University, found strong support for the existing college athletic conference alignment. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said schools should “fight to preserve the original intent of collegiate athletics as part of the student experience” while only 19 percent said the commercialization of college sports is inevitable and should be accepted.
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The survey included responses from 1,500 college graduates within Big 12 states – 300 each within Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa.
Kind of fun being in the eye of this at the moment. It’s all swirling around Pitt, but at this point the only thing landing on Pitt is the name-calling. Here’s the thing Pitt fans: many of us decry when others — players, management, PR flacks, others in the media have a thin-skin about things. Same rule applies for us. There has and will be crap flown towards Pitt. Not all of it particularly intelligent or well-thought out. Not much of it you will like.
Hard, though, it may be, deal with it. Don’t take it personally. You can offer the facts. You can point out the obvious evidence. Just don’t let yourself get too worked up over the silliness. Pitt is going to be painted as the bad guy. It’s the simple narrative. Some will go over the tops, others treating it like Pitt just part of the general problem.
Let me take you through the run down in case you missed some of it.
